Man United 1-1 Twente: Hero to Villain; Questions About Efficiency

Manchester United was held to a draw by Twente after taking an early lead from Christian Eriksen.

Player of the Match

Bart van Rooij (Whoscored: 7.7; Sofascore: 7.6)

Both Whoscored and Sofascore rated Bart van Rooij highly for his contributions and influence on the game, particularly in limiting Manchester United’s attacking threats from the left. On a day when Marcus Rashford also performed well, van Rooij’s effectiveness stood out.

He completed 85% of his passes, attempted 4 dribbles, made 4 successful tackles, and won possession back for his team. Active throughout the right half of the pitch, van Rooij won 8 of 11 duels, provided an assist leading to Twente’s equalizer, and created a significant chance for a teammate.

His outstanding efforts were pivotal in Twente securing a point at Old Trafford.

Worst Player

Ricky van Wolfswinkel (Whoscored: 6.4; Sofascore: 6.3)

While Whoscored did not rate captain Ricky van Wolfswinkel the lowest, Sofascore deemed him the most disappointing player on the pitch. Playing on the right flank, he struggled to make an impact compared to his teammates.

Van Wolfswinkel had a passing accuracy of just 62%, won only 7 of 20 duels, and did not manage a single shot on target, with one effort being blocked.

Tactical Statistics

Despite being favored to win, Manchester United’s first-half possession was marginal at 52%. They created only one clear chance from 8 total shots compared to Twente’s 3.

The total passes were closely matched, with United completing 259 compared to Twente’s 236, highlighting a lack of clear pressure from the home side, although Eriksen’s goal came from one of their few opportunities.

In the second half, United dominated possession at 62%, taking 11 shots and earning 5 corners to Twente’s 2. However, their efficiency was lacking, with 5 of those shots missing the target.

Even while being outplayed, Twente managed 4 shots in the second half, 2 of which were on target, capped off by Lammers’ equalizer in the 68th minute. Twente’s resilience was evident with 12 tackles compared to United’s 8.

Key Moments

Christian Eriksen: From Hero to Villain

Eriksen opened the scoring for Manchester United with a beautifully executed strike. In a match where United struggled to convert their chances, he was a bright spot, converting an opportunity in the 35th minute.

However, Eriksen’s error leading to Twente’s equalizer underscored his current limitations. A sluggish moment allowed the opposition to press, regain possession, and score against Andre Onana.

Eriksen’s transformation from hero to villain reflected Manchester United’s ongoing struggles with offensive efficiency and defensive vulnerabilities.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *